Maria Katherine Karino-Faubion 01.24.1992 - 01.26.2014

The Maria Fund

Maria was placed in the foster home of Larry and Jan Faubion (founders of Kids Crossing) at the age of 7 months. Because she was born hydrocephalic with only a brainstem, and needed significant care, Maria was given only 30 days to live. Due to the ongoing care and love provided to her by the Faubions, Maria lived to be 22 years old. Due to Maria's special needs, she was unable to participate in the daily activities any "normal" child may engage in. For this reason, The Maria Fund was created.

The Maria Fund will afford foster children opportunities to participate in activities and/or non-traditional therapies that may otherwise be unavailable to them due to financial constraints. Foster children receive Medicaid to cover medical and mental health needs, but Medicaid does not often cover alternative forms of therapy, and some children do not respond to traditional talk therapy in an office setting. The Maria Fund may also provide a child with a new bicycle, art supplies, or participation in a sports club!

The Maria Fund will also be available to foster families to provide opportunities for Kids Crossing foster families to participate in activities and events as an entire family, just as the Faubions always wished could have happened in their home. Such activities may include a family trip to the movies, going out to dinner, or may cover the cost of museum, park, or zoo memberships.

As a donor, Kids Crossing will provide you with information about how your contribution has helped afford a foster child and/or family new opportunities and experiences. Kids Crossing will also feature an update about donations and funds awarded to foster children and families in the monthly newsletter. Contact us to subscribe!

Donations from The Maria Fund have afforded these opportunities:

A family membership to The Denver Zoo for a family of 7! The foster family has taken in a difficult sibling group of 3 and is grateful for the opportunity to spend some fun time outside, learning and bonding together. They have already used the membership for a trip over spring break, and are looking forward to many more visits this summer!

A Colorado Springs foster youth was nominated for the People to People Ambassador Program and will be spending a week at Harvard University! The Maria Fund, along with funds raised through TwoCor and The Milton Child's Fund through CASA, helped cover the cost of travel and expenses for the week-long leadership conference.

Other ways to help Kids Crossing:

Beginning in September, Kids Crossing searches for donors to participate in our annual holiday gift drive to fulfill "wish lists" generated for foster, biological, and adopted children in all of our foster family homes.

Ornaments featuring a child's first name, age, gender, and a few items they would like to receive are distributed to donors each year, and the gifts are collected throughout the month of December. Families and donors then gather at one of our holiday parties in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Pueblo and gifts are distributed to each child by Santa!

To learn more on how you, your family, your business, your church, or your community organization can help, contact Leslie Campbell at (719) 667-7068.

Join us as we continue to make children's holiday wishes come true!

Gifts In-Kind

We accept new or gently used clothing, furniture, books, toys, bicycles, and other items a foster child or family may benefit from. Kids Crossing has a resource closet available to foster families in addition to other families served through our clinic and family preservation program. Contact Sarah Bailey to learn more about current needs.

Kids Crossing has also started a new Halloween Costume recycle and exchange program. Gently worn or unused costumes of all sizes are collected and will be made available to foster children in October of each year. To learn more, contact Erika Pirotte.

Volunteers

Kids Crossing invites all donors to most foster family events throughout the year, although general volunteers are difficult to accept due to the confidential nature of working with foster children. If you are interested in helping with an upcoming event, please contact Erika Pirotte at (719) 667-7048.

The local organization, Fostering Hope, also offers a great opportunity for individuals and families to directly work with licensed foster families throughout the Colorado Springs area.